V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary

Tips:
It may be helpful to think of the related words scar, scold, and scorch. Something that is scathing is so critical it scars, scolds, or scorches the person or thing at which it is aimed. You can think of it as a more sophisticated and precise way of saying "severely critical."

Usage Examples:

The critic's review of the play was so scathing that the entire cast went home in tears. (critical, severe)

Many political candidates like to publicize scathing commercials about their opponents. (critical, harsh )

The angry employee wrote a scathing letter to his boss. (bitter, caustic, harsh)